Coming Home from the NICU: A Guide for Supporting Families in Early Infant Care and Development

Description

For families of an infant leaving the NICU, nothings more exciting—and challenging—than the critical transition to home life with their baby. Support the NICU-to-home transition with this accessible book, the complete guide to helping parents meet their babys special needs and promote optimal development in the first year after homecoming.

Invaluable for a wide range of professionals—including early interventionists, OTs, PTs, public health nurses, physicians, and social workers—this book is the key to providing family-centered, developmentally supportive guidance in the months after the NICU. Professionals will deepen their understanding of the emotional and physical challenges of the NICU experience, and theyll get in-depth guidance on how to support parents effectively as they

develop a loving and satisfying relationship with their baby

manage the changes to their daily routines and home environment

recognize, interpret, and respond to the babys signals and behaviors

actively encourage motor and language development

support the babys management of sleep/wake cycles

identify concerns about the babys development

learn the timing, intensity, and amount of activity that work for their unique baby

promote their babys self-regulation

locate and access community resources and social supports

To illuminate the incredible strength of parents of premature infants, the book includes powerful stories of real families who share their experiences of supporting and loving their babies in the NICU and beyond. Readers will also receive printable handouts to share with families—Coming Home: What to Expect; Reading Your Babys Cues; Feeding Your Baby; Positioning and Handling Strategies; Communicating With Your Baby; Playing With Your Baby; Helping Your Baby Learn; and more—and lists of resources, websites, and organizations that provide additional information and support.

With this definitive guide from two leading experts in infant development and early intervention, professionals will provide sensitive, effective support and guidance to new parents as they make a smooth transition to home life and develop strong relationships with their babies.

Reviews

"This is a truly invaluable resource for professionals who work with parents and their infants, who are making the transition from NICU to home. With their vast experience in working with infants and families, Dr. Kathleen VandenBerg and Dr. Marci Hanson have captured with sensitivity and understanding the challenges faced by infants and families, during this transition. Brimming with clinical vignettes and practical information sheets, including guidelines for professionals and tips for parents, this book successfully balances cutting edge research and clinical practice, in a way that makes the material accessible to both professionals and parents alike."

"This book is a much needed resource for parents and professionals working with parents on the transition of preterm infants from NICU to home care. It is written in a style which is highly accessible for parents. The book provides necessary therapeutic frameworks for parents and professionals to be able to work effectively together to understand each infant's behavior and promote each infant's well-being. In addition, the book provides invaluable information about innovative interventions, as well as community and peer resources for parents of pre-terms."

Table of Contents

Contents of the Accompanying CD-ROMAbout the AuthorsNote to the ReaderAcknowledgements

Before placing your order from outside the U.S., please email Greg Ditch at gditch@monacoassociates.com with a list of the items you intend to order. Greg will email you with a quote for shipping costs and instructions for completing your order. Thanks!